Drug Education Library

Since prescription, drugs can be obtained legally and found in medicine cabinets in young adults' own homes, there is a perception that they are not as dangerous as other types of drugs. However, abuse of prescriptions can have hazardous-sometimes even deadly-consequences, which readers discover in great detail. Enlightening charts and sidebars augment the discussion of prescription drug abuse, and a list of websites provides resources for those who may already be struggling with this addiction.

Young adults who abuse prescription opioids may turn to heroin later on, as it gives the same type of high but can be cheaper and easier to obtain than prescriptions. Knowing the health risks associated with heroin abuse can help young adults avoid falling into the traps of both kinds of drugs. Incorporating full-color photographs and detailed charts, this volume illustrates the severe health threat heroin poses. A list of antidrug organizations is provided for readers to learn more about this dangerous drug epidemic.

The use of designer drugs such as LSD, Ecstasy, and methamphetamines is unfortunately widespread among young adults, particularly in club or party settings. These drugs are especially risky because they are made in batches in individual home labs, so there is no way to tell how much of any dangerous substance was used in their creation. Readers learn the risks associated with using many of these designer drugs. The accessible text, complemented by full-color photographs and in-depth sidebars, gives them the facts they need to make safe choices.

Young adults are faced with pressure from friends, family, and the media not to become overweight. Many struggle with self-esteem issues as a result, and someone who has trouble keeping his or her weight down may turn to dangerous diet drugs for a quick fix. Readers learn about the consequences of taking these pills through accessible text and informative graphs. A list of organizations is included where young adults can find more information about healthy alternatives to diet drugs.

While steroids are medically useful in small, prescribed doses, they are too often abused in sports alongside other performance-enhancing drugs. Young athletes may feel their natural performance is not good enough, so they may turn to these drugs to get ahead. Young athletes are informed about the risky effects of abusing these drugs to combat the allure of being perceived as a better player. Sidebars and full-color photographs help portray the dangerous consequences of this type of drug abuse.

Marijuana use is extremely prevalent in today's society, and factions have long debated whether it is helpful, harmful, or both. With the legalization of marijuana in some states, this debate is more heated than ever, making it crucial to give young adults as much information as possible. This volume presents readers with both sides of the issue, encouraging them to think critically about whether or not marijuana should be legalized nationally. Detailed sidebars and full-color photographs explore the history and effects of marijuana use, and a list of websites is provided for further research.